Loughner to be sentenced for 2011 Arizona shootings

Jared Loughner, who pleaded guilty to a 2011 mass shooting, will be sentenced Thursday.

Story highlights

Gabrielle Giffords and her husband plan to attend the sentencing

Rep. Ron Barber, who was wounded in the attack, also plans to attend

Jared Loughner will be sentenced to life in prison as part of a plea deal

The January 2011 shooting killed six people and wounded 13 others

Jared Loughner, the Arizona man who pleaded guilty to the attempted assassination of then-U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, will be sentenced Thursday.

Federal prosecutors have said Loughner will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the January 2011 shooting, which killed six people and wounded 13 others, including Giffords.

The congresswoman was holding a meet-and-greet event with constituents in Tucson when Loughner walked up and shot her in the head.

Tucson shooting victim reacts to plea

Just Watched

Survivors react to Loughner plea deal

As part of a plea deal with the government, Loughner, 24, pleaded guilty in August to 19 charges in exchange for the sentence to avoid facing the death penalty.

Loughner had been facing more than 50 federal charges, and the remaining offenses were dropped in exchange for the guilty pleas if Loughner is sentenced within the terms of the plea agreement, according to a written agreement filed in court.

Under the pleas, Loughner admitted guilt in the wounding of Giffords and the murders of federal employees U.S. District Court Chief Judge John M. Roll, 63, and congressional aide Gabriel M. Zimmerman, 30, prosecutors said.

Loughner admitted injuring with a Glock pistol 10 people participating at an activity provided by the U.S. government and creating a grave risk of death to 13 more people, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors agreed to the plea deal after taking into account Loughner's history of mental illness and the views of victims and their families. The judge in August ruled Loughner competent to stand trial.

Kelly said after the plea deal that he and his wife were satisfied with the agreement.